Endless track-band for motor-vehicles.



a 0. C. HOUGHTON. ENDL'ESS TRACK BAND FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1,3. m

1,278, 150. Patented Sept; 10,1918.-

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O. C. HOUGHTON.

ENDLESS TRACK BAND FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. 1 91].

1 ,278, 150. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

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ORLEY C. HOUGHTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO FREDERICK C.AUSTIN, OF

7 CHICGO, ILLINOIS.

- ENDLESS TRACK-BAND FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters iatent. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed October 13, 1917. Serial No. 198,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1'. ORLEY C. HoUcH'roN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have inveuteda certain new and useful Improvement inEndless Track-Bands for Motor-Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that.the following description of my said invention, taken in connectionwith the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exactspecification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to improvements in endless track bandsfor motor vehicles; and it consists, essentially, in the novel andpeculiar combination of parts and details of construction, ashereinafter first fully set forth and described-and then pointed out inthe claims.

The object of this invention is the production of an eflicient,serviceable, and durable endless track band or belt, which, whiledesigned for general use on motor vehicles, such as automobiles, motortrucks, and traction engines, is especially well adapted for employmentin trailers for traction engines and motor trucks, which trailers arenot provided with a motor, and do not have steeringwheels-0r means forsteering thesame.

A further object of ,this invention is theproduction of an endless trackband which shall be self-sustaining, e. require no supporting wheels forthe upper stretch of the belt, nor track wheels to sustain thesuperstructure of the machine on which the endless trackis employed. I

Another object of this invention is an endless track band in which theindividual members of said band are provided with means for taking upthe stretch or slack in the band, such as will occur in the course oftime.

Still another object of this invention is an endless track hand which,in normal condi tion shall be curved in such a manner that when the beltis trained over a pair of wheels, .the lower stretch thereof shall becurved with the highest point in the curve approximately medially of thesaid pair of wheels, which will greatly facilitate the turning of thevehicle without dragging the belt over the ground.

Other objects of my invention will hereina er appear.

To accomplish these objects, I construct this endless track band. in thepreferred embodiment of my invention, as shown in the drawings forming apart of this specification of my improved endless track band as appliedto a truck having band wheels over which the endless track band istrained. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan ofthe same, on the indirect line 22of F ig.- 1, the band wheels over which the endless track band isstretched, being omitted. Fig. 3 is a side elevation on an increasedscale, of a portion of the endless track band;-and Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the-members Of'the banddetached. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same, the. treads or shoes beingomitted. Fig. 7 is a' longitudinal vertical section on line 77 of Fig.6. Fig. 8 is a plan of one of the eccentric bolts emtion, and in whichFigure 1 is a side elevaa ployed in this track band for taking up slacktherein; and Fig. 9 is an end view of the same.

Like parts are designated by the same characters and symbols ofreference in all the various figures.

The truck .on which thls endless track band is mounted may be of anydesired construction which is-suitable for motor driven vehicles, theone shown in Figs. 1 and 2 being given as an exemplification of a truckwhich is especially well adapted for a trailer, and which truck includestwo me1nbers 12, 13, in parallel spaced relationship,

said members having at one extremity bearings 14, for the reception of ashaft 15, on which there is mounted one of the band wheels 16,heretofore mentioned, said members 12, 13, having at their other endsbearings 17, in which is journaled a shaft 18,

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constructed to support a traction machine, or other vehicle onwhich theendless track band is to be employed. This vehicle forms no part of mypresent invention, and a showing thereo'fis, therefore omitted.

The endless track band comprises a. series of links A, each of which isprovided with. a plate B, preferably cast integrally with its linkmember, said plate performing the function of a shoe or tread, on whichthe structure is supported. Each of these/link members, which are of thehermaphrodite type. is a box-like casting having, as best shown in Figs.6, and l, a bottom member a top member 26, and two side members 27, 28.This box has at one end a notch or opening :29, constituting, inconjunction with side-lugs 30, 31, the female portion of the dink, andat the other end a reduced portion forming the male part of the link,and which enters the notch 29 to form the articulation of the band. Fromthe sideanembers 27, 28, and at the female part of the link, extendbosses 33, 34, the boss 33 having in its outer face. a polygonal recessand a cylindrical bore 36; and the boss 34 having centrally, and alinedwith the bore 36, a smaller bore 37. The boss 32, forming the male partof the link has a central cylindrical bore 38. preferably lined with ahardened steel bushing 39. These links are hingedly connected to eachother by bolts C, shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, each of said boltshaving a head 40, engaging the recess in the boss 33, and adjacent ofthis head there is a cylindrical part- 41, engaging the bore 36, while aterminal cylindrical portion l2 of the bolt, which is in axial alincment with the portion ell, engages the bore 37 in the lug 31 and bossBetween the tivo cylindrical portions ll, 42, there is a cylindricalportion l -3, the axis of: which is eccentric to the portions ll, 4:2,and engages the bore i l: in the bushing 39. This bolt C is held inposition by a cotter pin. 45, or other suitable means, the cotter pinbeing preferred on account of ease of removal and insertion.

It will now be noted that the bolt Cis normally nonrotatably held inposition in. the link by its polygonal head in the polygonalrecess lVhenfirst assembled, this bolt is placed in such a position that theeccentric portion thereof projects away from the male part of the linkand, therefore, affords the normal distance between these two points.But, as wear occurs this bolt may be longitudinally moved, (bywithdrawing the cotter pin to) to clear the head 40 from the recess 35,and then rotated at .operation may be repeated as often as reave quired,depending upon the shape of the bolt.

head l0, until the eccentric portion 43 is in the terminal positionshown in Fig. 6, when no further taking-up lot slack can be made. Asillustrated in the figures, the head of this bolt is a so-called squarehead, permitting of two changes of position being made; when hexagonal,there would be three changes possible, and when octagonal. there wouldbe four changes, the final result however, being the same in all casesand depending upon the throw of the eccentric.

Each male part 32 of the links has an extension. D, reaching well towardthe middle of the next succeeding link. This extension 1) bears normallyupon the under side of the forward part of thetop wall 26, as

best seen in Fig. 7; and it is so constructed that the next succeedinglink is slightly at an angle to the first link, whereby the belt willhavev a pronounced curvature, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the angularityis, however, slightly exaggerated to more clearly show this condition;and in Figs. 1 and 3, wherein this curved condition is shown as the beltappears when applied tothe truck. Of course, after a slight wear orstretch of the belt,- this curve will somewhat flat-ten, but this can bereadily-corrected in the manner hereinbefore described, by the eccentricbolts C.

In order to prevent the endless track band from side-wise movement onthe band wheels 16, 19, these wheels are provided with radiallyprojecting wings 47, Fig. 1, which engage the sides 27, 28, of thelinks; and when these band wheels, or either one thereof is used as adriver in a motor vehicle, these wings are so planned that they engagethe side-wise extending bosses 33, 34-, of the links; and in order toprevent wear as much possible. these bosses 33, 34, are then providedwith hardened steel bands is, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, shrunk onto, orotherwise secured to, the said bosses.

The marginal transverse edges of the treads B are concavo-convex incontour, the margin 49 being concave, and the margin 50 being convex,and overlying the concave 49. This construction serves primarily toprevent dirt, sand, and other objectionable matter from entering betweenadjacent ends of the treads, and also to stifi'en these marginal edges;and to further stiffen the treads, there are formed thereon projections51, which also serve as anchors to prevent the endless track band fromsliding when the same is placed upon soft ground.

To avoid wear as far as possible, the bolts C are made from hardenedsteel; and they may be made from manganese steel in the process ofcasting, and subsequent grinding when necessary, machining not beingfeasible when made from manganese steel; and to provide for meanswhereby the position of tion, I claim as new, and desire to secure-tomyself by Letters [Patent of the United States- 1. An endless trackband, comprising, a multiplicity of links, each link being boxsha'ped,each link being provided with an in-' tegrally-formed tread, said linkbeing of the hermaphrodite type,-there being at the female end of eachlink laterally extending bosses, there being mounted in said bosses .abolt, said bolt having an eccentric engaging the male part of an adjacent link, 'and means for preventing rotation of said bolt.

2. An endless track band comprising a multiplicity of links, each linkbeing provided with a tread anda male and two female members, said linksbeing connected by bolts, each bolt including a head, a largecylindricalportion adjacent said head, an

' eccentric'portion adjoining said cylindrical an adjacent link.

.portion, and'a reduced terminal cylindrical portion, the twocylindrical portions being in axial ,alinement and constructed to engagethe two female members, while the eccentric portion engages-the'male'member of 3. An endless track -band comprising, a multiplicity ofhermaphrodite links, each link being provided with a' tread, the femaleportion of each link havi ng laterally extend ing bosses, one of saidbosseshaving a pol gonal recess and acylindrical bore, the. ot er ofsaid bosses having a cylindrical bore smaller in diameter than thefirst-mentioned bore, the male portion of said link having a cylindricalbore of smaller diameter than the first-mentioned bore, but larger thanthe bore in the second boss, and a bolt, said bolt having a polygonalhead, a cylindrical portion adjacent said head, an eccentric portion,and a terminal cylindrical portion, said bolt connecting adjacent links.

4. In an endless track band, pivotally connected links, each link havinga tread formed integrally with the link,'-said links being of thehermaphrodite type, said links being of.

box shape, there being formed on the male part of each link anextensionentering the lnterior space of an adjacent'link and normallybearing on the-.-under side of the top of said box-shaped link, wherebysaid links are permittedto articulate in one direction, but preventedfrom articulation in the opposite direction. a

5. An endless track band, comprising, pivotallyconnected links, eachlink having a tread formed integrally with the link, said 7 links beingof the hermaphrodite type, said links being of box shape, there beingformed on'the male part of each link'an-extension enterin the interiorspace of an adjacent link an normally bearing on the undenside of thetop of'said box-shaped link,,whereby said links are permitted to.articulate in one direction, butprevented from articulation in theopposite direction, the pivotal connection between said links includingbolts each of which has an eccentric portion engaging the male part ofan adjacent link.

61 An endless track band, comprising-a; multiplicity of links, each linkhaving a tread formed integrally with the link, said 8 links being ofthe hermaphrodite type',-said links being hollow, there being formed onthe male part of each link an'extension entering the hollow space'in thelink and normally bearing against an adjacent link, said links beingconnected by bolts, each bolt.

having an eccentric portion engaging the male part of an adjacentl1nk,there being means on each bolt indicating the position of saideccentric portion.

In testimony that I. claim the foregoing as my invention, I havehereunto set my hand.

ORLEY O. HOUG HTON.

